Iran's Hypernova to tour U.S. and release debut effort

There are some artists who consider "suffering for their art" to mean weathering harsh critics and dealing with paparrazzi. But when performing your art in your home country could mean arrest, larges fines or even a public flogging, the idea takes on a whole new meaning. After playing numerous secret gigs in their homeland of Iran hoping to avoid detection, HYPERNOVA made an exodus to the U.S. giving them not only a means to do what they love without threat but also a new lease on personal freedom.

"The underground scene in Iran is pretty intense," explains Raam, lead singer/guitarist. "There are many amazing musicians driven by a burning passion who are literally putting their lives on the line for their music, just like we did. There's nothing more beautiful than raw and sincere music."

Self-described as "a futuristic version of Joy Division meets the Chameleons with a little bit of Che Guevara," Hypernova's exciting, primal music is the sound of minimal, dark epic techno converted into rock n roll. NPR described them quite accurately as cut from the same cloth as "The Strokes, the Arctic Monkeys and Queens of the Stone Age."

Already creating a buzz in the U.S. underground and no longer hidden from authority, Hypernova's story, and more importantly, their music has earned the attention of media outlets as varied as ABC News, LA Times, NY Times, MTV, and Anthem Magazine. They've also earned the respect of their peers, including Berlin's underground stars IAMX who took them on their East Coast tour last month and goth/rock legends Sisters of Mercy who will be taking Hypernova on their full US tour this Fall (dates below).

"When I was a kid my dad would take me skiing and he would always play the Sisters of Mercy in the car," remembers Raam. "He didn't even know who they were but he would play it all the time. Fast forward 15 years, we come to the States and get invited to go on tour with them. What are the odds?"

For these Iranian expatriots, the odds seem to be constantly and consistently tilting in their favor.

Their debut album, Through the Chaos which will be released independently in Spring 2009, is a wild and dynamic mixture of dark alternative pop mixed with a thick and sweet melodic dance rock. From the eerily chiming intro of "Universal" to the airy Psychedelic Furs-esque levity of "Lost in Space" to the fierce dance-rock of the first single "Fairy Tales", Hypernova's debut album is an homage to their love of Western music, seen through the eyes of a band who risked life and liberty for their chance at the American Dream.

"There are a number of things that we touch upon in this album, whether it be social and political themes or just songs about love," he explains. "Mostly the songs are about our own lives and all the stuff we've been through to make it here to the States. It all started from a dream we had back in the underground to one day come and play just one show in New York. We faced so many difficulties to get here but never gave up and always stood strong in the face of adversity."

Produced by Herwig Maurer and mixed by Sean Beaven (Nine Inch Nails, No Doubt, Marilyn Manson), Through the Chaos is the sound of a band learning to stretch its wings with the open streets and clubs of the U.S. as their soaring ground. With an intensely bright future ahead of them and the freedom to express themselves, Hypernova is just beginning to take flight.

"Our hopes for the future are to keep playing bigger and badder shows and hopefully doing a tour in Europe, Japan, Australia and many other places around the globe! There's nothing better than traveling around the world and playing your music to all kinds of different people. Through the Chaos is basically the story of Hypernova. From the first track to the last, the album tells the story of our lives."

TOUR DATES
Oct 22 CMJ BMI Showcase @ Crash Mansion NYC** Showtime 12midnight ITH SISTERS OF MERCY
Oct 31 The Trocadero Philadelphia, PA
Nov 1 The Palladium Worcester, MA
Nov 3 Irving Plaza New York, NY
Nov 4 Toad’s Place New Haven, CT
Nov 5 9:30 Club Washington DC
Nov 7 The National Richmond, VA
Nov 9 House Of Blues Lake Buena Vista, FL
Nov 10 Jannus Landing St Petersburg, FL
Nov 11 Variety Playhouse Atlanta, GA
Nov 13 House Of Blues Cleveland, OH
Nov 14 Bogarts Cincinnati, OH
Nov 15 Royal Oak Music Theatre Royal Oak, MI
Nov 17 House Of Blues Chicago, IL
Nov 18 First Avenue Minneapolis, MN
Nov 20 Ogden Theater Denver, CO
Nov 26 Warfield San Francisco, CA
Nov 28 House Of Blues Las Vegas, NV
Nov 29 House Of Blues San Diego, CA
Nov 30 House Of Blues Anaheim, CA
Dec 2 Henry Fonda Theater Los Angeles, CA

Hypernova's debut album Through the Chaos will be released Spring 2009 and was produced by Herwig Maurer and mixed by Sean Beaven (Nine Inch Nails, No Doubt, Marilyn Manson).